k crutchfield



Nov. 4, 1930.

G. K. CRUTCHFlELD. JR.. ET AL BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1929 l1 Sheets-Sheet l N bvb. NWN

um wm @n QQN ATTORNEYS NOV- 4, 1930.l G. K. CRUTCHFIELD, JR., ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June l, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV- 4, 1930- G. K. CRUTCHFIELD, JR., ET AL l,780,8l5

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June l, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 4, 1930. Gf K. CRUTCHFIELD. JR., ET AL 1,730,815

BAG TYING' MACHI NE Filed June 1, 1929 11 sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 4, 1930. G. K. CRUTCHFIELD. JR.. ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1929 v 11 sheets-sheet 5 man] ATToRNEYs Nov. 4, 1930, G. K. cRUTcHf-IELD, JR.. ET AL BAG TYING MACHINE 'Filed June l, 1929 11 sheets-sheetV 6 Jr. MH,

ATTOR NEYS .Kirzlferi Cfr:

ggm? l @WMZ N0V 4, 1930- G. K. cRUTcHFxELD, JR., ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June l, 1929 1l Sheets-Sheet 7 www ATTOR NEY5 Farr/ranma Nov. 4, 1930. G. K. cRuTcHFlELD. JR., ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYI NG MACHINE I Filed June l, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Nun Qhm,

QWM. NMA..

slvm C. Jr.

' Nov. 4, 1930- G. K. cRu'rcHFlELD, JRWET AL 1,780,815

I BAG TYING `MACHINE Filed June l, 1929 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 @en Aif.(fr-:duchcvelclJ1: "wafers .M IHmrrb ana,

.Liuz/ C. maken Jr.

lee 35% 06 @mf MM atto/:wagt

Nov. 4, 1930. G. K. CRUTCHFIELD, JR., ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1929 11 sheets-sheet 1o .ldmulvc'h drift Jhn Cir,

M @w1/#MMM aktomgd.

NOV 4, 1930 G. K. CRUTCHFIELD, JR., ET AL 1,780,815

BAG TYING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1929 ll Sheets-Sheet ll l i m Y m2 w QR,

:n 1.1 www.

silk and george icc Vai/'SIS C- rulzlf Kraken J n John.

Patented Nov. 4, v1930 Unirse' STATES.- PATENT oFFlcr-i' i GEORGE x. cRUTcHEIELn, Jia., WATEBs C. NORTHAM, Annv JOHN C.- KINKER, .111.01

l I RICHMOND-,l VIRGINIA, AssIGNoRs Tol sein eRU'rcI-IFIELD.

BAGTING MACHINE 'Application med June 1,

The inventiony forming the subj ect? matter ofl this application isa machinel 'for auto! matically' carrying for feeding filled paper orotliver` sacks to a predetermined'position under mechanism for tyingV the" sacks and for passingthe tied sacksffrom'" such position Vout oflthefm'achinel y 1 o v .Y

The main object ofthe invention is to provide a machine of' `this type'in -which the parts-,operable to tie thesacks are controlled in 'their operation by the presence of filled 'sacks in'cert-ainpredetermined positions on a conveyor; forming'part of the machine.

A y lfurther obj ect of I the invention resides in 'providing`l machines 'of'vthis type with means for cutting `'off ties of predetermined length, andy applying 'these ties only whena bag or sack is'properly'positioned to receive them/'F` I.

Other'v obj ectsofthe invention` will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings; "i f f Fig. l is a planl vie-W 'of' the lmachine lwith parts broken away to'illustrate the vinvention clearly ;'f t 1 Fig.i1A is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view''illustrating #the normal positions of controlling elementsof the machine;

F igf2` is a side elevation kof the machine;

Fig. 3 is anelevation Vof the machine taken on the sideopposite to thatshown in Fig. 2;

` Fig. .isis a frontv endelevation of the machine;y y, o 'Y .j I

Fig. 5 is-arear` end lelevation of the machine; .l f.

Fig.' '6"isa'p1an'view of one of a pair of bag closing members;

Fig. 7 is a side 'elevation of the member shown in Fig. 6, parts being broken awayand sectionedtol show detailsof construction;

Fig. Sis an end elevation ofithe member shown in Fig. 6; n Y

Fig. 9 is-a vertical s ectiontakenon the line 9f9 of Fi'g..7

Fig.A 10 is a plan viewof the other bag closiirgmember.;..1Y '1.

Fig.v 11 is a side elevationof the member shownin-lFig; '-10,1-partS-thereoffbeing broken 1929. Serial No. 367,787.

- Fig. '14 is a similar plan view of said tie cutting mechanism; but with the part thereof shown in a-dilferent operative position to that shown'in Fig. 13; f

Fig. 15 is aside elevation of the tie. cutting mechanism with the several parts thereof arranged as shown inFig. 14 ;1 y

Fig. 16 is an end elevation;` on an enlarged scale, of the said cutting mechanism With lthe parts arranged das' shown in Figs. 14 and Fig'. 17'is aA fragmentary front elevation yof the vertically adjustable structure for slidably supporting the bag closing members;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 19-`is a section Online 19-*19 of Fig.

F ig.' 20 isy a perspective view of one ofthe L-shaped members for slidably supporting one of the bag closing. members;

Fig. 21 is a: fragmentary perspective view of partof the mechanism for operating'the bag closing members; y

Fig. 22 isa perspective view of a pair of cam rolls which cooperate with the mechanism shown in Fig. 21 for operatingthe bag closing fingers.; l

lFig. 23 is an exploded perspectivey of a detail'of construction supportedby one of said bag closing members;

Fig. 24V is a vertical section taken on line meohaai'smshoWninF-ig.24;.and

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a cutter slide-support forming part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 24 and 27.

Referring to the drawings, theV machine comprises a pair of runners 1 and 2, supported atv-their opposite ends, by standards, 4, 5 and 6 (see Figs. 4and 5), which are connected at their lower ends by suitable cross y braces of which only the cross brace 7 is 'shown' inthe drawings as connecting the y standards 3 and4. v Lower rails 8 and 9 connect the standards 3 and 6, and`4and 5,fin

i pairs, respectively; and braces 10y and 11 ex- Immediately in front of .the` standards 3 tend from .the rails 8 and 9, respectively, to the rear legs 12 and 13 (see Figs. 2v and 3) of vertical supports 14 and v15y arrangedon opposite sides of runners 1 and 2 to carry the ag tying mechanism in proper position over a-conveyor 16 movably mounted between the said runners 1 and 2.1

and 4,l and depending from the runners- 1 and 2,.respectively', areA the brackets 17 and 18, in the lower end of which ismounted a shaft 19 having the sprocket/Wheels ,20 and 21 fixed thereto to support one end of the conveyor 16 adjacent to therunners 1 and 2. At the rear end 0f the machine 'and adjacent the standards 5. and 6, ythe. shaftv 22. is journaled inbearing plates` 23 and 24 suitably' secured to'and dependingffrom the runners 1 and 2,

respectively. This shaft has securedthereto, the sprocket wheels 25 and 26 forming the l,other support forjthe con-veyor 16, whichv as shown, isofthe endless type, and has suitably secured' thereto the bracket members for moving the material placed on; the conveyor intoproper position below the `tying mechaplates 38 and 39 to the runners 1 and 2, re'-V spect'ively. 1Adjusting "screws 40'l f and-` 41', screwthreaded into the standards 36 and 37, are also swivelled to the guiderails 34 and 35 to provide for adjustment of the rear end of thesaid guide rails toward and'fronithe center of the conveyor 16,v vThe guidevrails 34 and 35 are supported upon Vtheir respective standardsat any'convenent height abovethe bracket members 27 ,i aand-fare preferably made of light Vspringy material. -`f .f

The conveyor 16 is krdriven-by meas'zoffa motor 42 (see Figsp3 and-l5) mounted on a rail 43 secured-to the legs 13 and 13ofvthe standard 15, asshownin Fig. 3.1-A cross rail tor 42 extends from the rail 43 inwardly toward the conveyor; and the outer end of this cross rail 44 is riveted to the rail 43, while its inner end is riveted to an upright member 45 secured` at its bottom end to a transverse rail 46, extending between the leg 13 ,and the lower rail 8. v

.The rail 45 extends vertically from the cross rail 46 to a height about in alinement Vwith the rotor'axis of the motor 42e-(see F'4 2V and 3), land is then #bent inwardlyto e connected to a short cross rail 47 extending laterall inward from the leg 13. The molas its rotor shaft 48 rotatably supported in the upper' part of the leg 13, and has fixed thereto a worm 49 in mesh with a -worrnwheel 50 secured to the-end of a shift A 51 which is journaled in substantially triangular brackets 52, l53 and 54 boltedat their upper ends to a cross rail 55 connectingthe tops'of the standards `14 and l5. i

The bracket 52 is supportedat its lower end bv ashortrail 56 riveted to an an le iron 57 unsV (see Fig. 2) and extendin inwar y in alma Y ment with the similar rai 47, above referred L` to, which is likewisesecured to an angle'A ironA 58 connecting the legs 13 and 13 ofthe standard 15. The angle iron 57 serves not only as a support for the rail 56, but alsoconnpcts the legs 12l andf12,y *rigidly tofeach other. .f

Angle irons 59 and`60 are `riveted. theitepe ofthe legs12 and12 and'13 and 13', tively, to securetthese `pairs ,of legs,L rigidly to each other; andthe top rail 55'is bolted or otherwise 4 suitably secured to these angle irons 59 and 60. In order to drlvethe-cpn.-

veyor, the shaft 51 has secured thereto between the brackets 53 and 54 a sprocket Wheel 61. in mesh with a chain 62, which at its lowerv end, meshes with the Ysprocket wheel 63 `se,- cured to a countershaft 64 which is journalled in a bearin 65 `on the vrail 4 5, and in bearings formed int e bearing plates 23 and 24.

A gears-65, havinggcar teethextending l over onlyone fourth tof the peripherythereof, is fixed to the-shaft 64 and engages a gear 66 fixed to the shaft. 22 of the conveyor 16.

and 69, each set of which extends overnollg fourth oflthe peripheryI of the gear 66 an is separated from the adiacent sets of teeth by concave portions .'70,y 71 and 72V adaptcd'to fit the smooth part of the periphery of the gear 65."Each of thepparts 70, 7lland 72 occupies one twelfth of the periphery of thek gear 66: and serves to lock the gear 66 and shaft 22v in fixed position in the framework of the machine whilethe gear65 is 'rotating with its smoothpartl in Contact withwole 'ofthe concave'parts70,f71'011772.' f ff The object of the gear construction just'd'- scribed is .to cause vintermittent movement of the conveyor 16, and to prede-terminey such intermittent movement that a lledfsack will i always occupy: a, predetermined psition .inv

fthe-- c machineV when` moved by the Vconveyor under; the sack tyingY element-s. TheA movements of the sack tying. elements of the ,machine are timed with the movement of; the conveyorand are controlled by the presence of a sack. or sacls'on the conveyor, so that they willonly operatewhen a sach is pre'- sentedin proper position to be operated upon by them. It will' be obvious, of coursethat the spacing ofthe sets ofvgear `tee-th on the gearsl 'fandf. (56 must have a predetermined relation tohe spaeing-between the brackets 27 onthe lconye'yor .16 in order that thegseveral partsfmay operate in properlytime@l relation. vThe ends ofthe short rails 47 and 5G '('see are connected? to each other by a bridge73 ffand brackets-74 and 7 5 are bolted te and dependgfroin therails 47' and 56,7respeetively. f The bracket l74: is provided with rearwardlyturned bearings 7 6 `and 77 (see Fig. 17) inv which the vertical shaft 78 is ournaled g the topofthisshaft 78 has fixedthereto a., leyer 79f-having a roller 80 A rotatably meuntedon onevend ythereof to slide in the groovevSlgformed iii-fthe cam 'roll 82whieh isffmed to shaft lto be rotated thereby.

Th bracket; 75. isf structurally identical wit-"rs c bracket 74;'and-{has similar bearings 33 aiege. which-the ver-tical'shaft- 85 is ieurnaled A lever 86, similar to lever 7 951 is xed; intermediategits:elidSto the top of Vshaft ydalsojhas agre'llerf 87;retatably mounted on one; endthereof :.tOkjSlide in the Vgroove 33 :formed: ingtheperiphery of the.. cam .roll which is 'also fixed to shaft 51 to 'rotate therewith. A A tension spring;9.0ghas one end fixed to the standardy 1 -aand hasits other end fixed vto the, leyerq79 adjacent tothe end of the arm carryingjthe; roller80= This spring 490 normally holdsthe roller 81 inV rolling Contact with theledge; 91,'of1the Cam'roll 82, 'and draws the roller inte' the cam groove-81, unless `the lever g 791 he :hield -agai nsti rotation means tebedescribed hereafter.

A tensionspring L92jhas70ne*ofits ends fixed 'tol-the standard 14: andihas its other. end fixed to the lever Sradjaeent te the vend of thearm carrying the roller 87. This spring 92ifnermal-ly' holds the roller 87. in rolling contact witlrthfe edge93' ofthe cam Vroll 89, unlessthe-lever86 beheld against-.rotation by mec ns, yaboutito be described:

rllhejleyer 79extendsyfrom its supporting shaft 78 .teward the .front of the machine and is .bent downwardly. twv-ard the conveyor 1G; llhe ferwardgen'dof'lever-7571y iszbenitto form a. `bifurcated part f 94, having; fthe@ furcations thereefj slidably seated1ingroeves 'A95 and 96', foilfmedfi' cwrvhicliA is. ably mounted on cylindrical rotiigced perpendicularly to asael; closing member 99, to be described later.

therQppositeedges fof fa sleeve 97, 5

and 4) has a crank; 100yfixedA thereto; and an arm 101 has one of its ends4 pivoted to the end of: said crank. This arm 101fis mounted to slide in av guidebraclret 102 lined to the runner 1 (.seeli'gs. 1 yand 3); 'andthe end of of; the stop 103 secured; to the lower. end of shaft; 1041 whichis yiournaledV in a bearing blocl; 105, suitably fixed to; the heri'contal flange 100 of therunner 1. Y Y 'its spacing sleeve 107 encloses-shaft 104', and serves to space andsuppor-t a straight edged-block 108 secured to Vthe upper end" of shaft 104 by-a setscreyv1109. An arm 110 of-fspringy material is securedto the-inner side-ofl said block by means of set screws 111 and 112,1(see Fie. 1) and a tension 'spring 113 has one end fixedto the stop'103; andfits other end te runner 1 tof-'hold the stopnormal-ly in position to make its end come to; rest inthe path of sliding` movement of the; arm v101 :ln-its `luide bracket 102.' As shown in Fig. 1, the stop 103 lla-sibeen moved out of the path offarm 101bythe engagement ofthe armA 11,0 withitheV side ofl a ilfledsaclr S (shown lin dotted-linesin Figs. 1, 2 and 4) and this movementhas permitted the shaft 78 to rotate under thegpull ofspring (see Fig. 1) by the roller 80 beingmoved into the' cam groove 81'. The severaljparts of themachine controlling rotation oflever 79 arie so designedV that whenv the end of stop 103 is in Contact with thev endofarm 101, the lever .7 9 is positioned so that'its roller 80;just vrides in contact' with ,the edge91of'cam-roll 82'; and the cam groove 81 is located on roll 82j' so as to permit the-leverf7 9 torotate only whena filled sack hasmoved, stop 103 away from en d ora-rm 101ja'ndgfis located as shown .Il Fie'. 1 vin positionrtoehave its ,neck closed by the bifurcated sack closing members-199 anellll.V l

The lever'S is structurally identical'with the lever 7 9,.3nd has its forward endbent and slotted to form furcrations 115 and;y 1'16 slidyably mounted in the grooves 117 and 118, respectively, of ythe vrectangular sleeve 119,

.70 arm 101 is adapted to contact with the end which v'is slidably mounted on thecylindrical Y rodsecured perpendicula'rly tothe linger closing member--114 (seeyFigs. 10and 11) The oscillations-of the leve-rs 7 9;- and 86 about their pivot axes; occur simultaneously to move the sack elosin'g'members 99 and 114: toward and from` each other; and, this simultaneous oscillation'of the -twoinembersis conl trolled `by the movementsrof; the'.y member 110 as affected by the presence of a, filled sack moved thereagainst by thefconveylor 16.

The lever 79 has studs112-1 andf122-secured to its upper face and e'quidistant fromthe axis of shaft 78. vThe lever 86,*likewise, has studs123 and 124 spaced on opposite sides of, the` axis of shaft 85,; ,at distances lequal 'to the. distances betweenl Vstudjs 121andf122 from obvious from Fig. 1 that as lever 79 oscillates 'about the axis of shaft 78, the link 125 will impartan oscillation inthe opposite direction to the lever 86; and thereby cause the bag closing members 99 and 114 to move toward and from bag closing position.

` The sack-closing member 99 comprises a rod 126 rectangularin cross section and bored lengthwise to form a bearing for a cylindrical shaft 127, which is also axially bored to receive slidably a cylindrical rod 128. The

Y 'shaft 127 is provided with a fia-nge 129 which extends over one end of the rod 126; and the other end of the shaft 127 projects through the rod'126and has keyed thereto a pinion 130 which abuts against the other endof the )A cap member 131 is provided with a coun'- tersinkp132 to receive the end of thefshaft 127, andis provided with afiangeabutting against the pinion130.- I i f y 1A sleeve v133 is slidably mounted yon the caplmember 131 with slide frictionl fit, and hasla'ilangef134 formed on the'end thereof radjacent to a flange 135 formed onfthe end of the member 131 which abuts against the pinion 130. A washer 136 extends across the end ofcap' 131 and the sleeve 133; and acompressionv spring 137 is Acoiled 'around the,l endl of .the rod`128 whichpr'ojeets through the'cap member 131 and Washer 136.v The spring 137 abuts, at one end, against the: Washer 136 ;y anda Vpiny 138,'securedto ltherod 128, serves ais-,nn abutment for the other end of the spring The other vsite sides ofthe rod 126' by the Abolts 141 and 142. The plates 139 and 14() are shaped to formr furcationsf143 and 144, and fur'cations 145 and 146, respectively, (see Figs. 7i eand 8).

elements 149 and150,which fare pivotall'y'y mounted on pins'151'fand152, .the parts 147 and 148 being recessedto receive the toothed elements'149 and 150. l

i Rigidly connected to the elements 149 and 150 are the links`il53 and 154 which are pivl 1 otallyconnectedatl their free ends to' each other and'to thejend of the rod 128, `a 'coil spring` lbeing yinserted-'ina counter sink liformedfin theend of shaft 127 and abut- V endof the rod 126`has -the sack` closing'plates 139 and 140, secured to oppoting against 'the toggle links 153 and v154 to hold the elements 149 and 150 normally separated from each other. l

It will be obvious from inspection of Fig. 7 that when the rod 128 is moved against the ,m pressure ofthe spring 137, the Wire gripping edges of the elements of 149 and 150 are made to move toward each other to grip theends of a piece of wire inserted between said edges. kIt will also be obvious that rotation of the'pinion 130 will cause rotation' of the shaft v127 and the elements149 and V150. The'spring 137 is made just long enough to contactl with the washer 136 and pin 1'38 without'tending to cause thev rod 128 tolmove in the shaft 127 against the pressure of the spring 155;*and, the outward kmovement of the rod 1281s caused by engagement of the side 157 ofthe sleeve 133 by a diskcamf158 (see Fig. Y The pinion 130 is also adapted tomesh with a 'gear i159 (see Fig. 4) whenever the sack closing member is in its innermost sack tying. position.V Since Vthe pinion 130 has to moveA repeatedly into and out ofgmesh with theteeth ou thefgear 159, the ad'acent edgesl 0f the intermcshingv teeth are slightly pointed so as to'cause proper alinement and mesh-i of the said teeth when the member 99 is 'to bringth'e pinion 130 into engagement with the gear 159.k l H i uA leafspring 160 is secured by a screw 161 tothe top ofthe rod 126, 'and is provided with an indentation 162, 'adapted to seat in the spaces between the teeth of the pinion 130 to hold the shaft in the position it occupied at the moment of separation of the pinion 130 from the gear 159. This construction is nec essary in order to ensure the elements 149 and 150 always occupying'their proper position between the fingers 139 and 140.

The member 99 is supported to slide transversely of the machine on a horizontal arm 163 of a slotted angle bracket 164 mounted to slide vertically on a plate 165 having its upnu per end suitably securedto the depending s liange166of the cross rail 55 ,and vhavin its lowerend secured to the upwardly exte l8 iange of the short crossrail 4 7.

' The plate 164 is provided with vertical m i slots 167, 168, 169 and 170, through `which clamping set bolts 171, 172, 173 and 174, respectively, extend and are screwthreaded into the supporting plate 165. A rack 175 fixed to the back-of the bracket 164 extends slidably i. into a slot 176 formed vertically in the plate 165 andv meshes with a pinion 177, (see Fig.

k3) which isfixed to a shaft 178 journaled m bearings 179, 18o, 181 and 182, (see Fig. u), fixed to the backof'the su porting plate 105 B6 and to theback ofa second sup ortmgpate i 183 Yon the other side of the macliine and also .4.' depending from the flange 166 of the cros rail 55.l

The plate 183l1as its upper end suitably un fixed bathe. flesse 1.6.6 @adhere its .lever end Xeel reihe .Shore @rese rail v5.6, (see Fge) The plete 123 also fvereiqallyslotted te reeeve eldebly e reek '18.4, (See Fs- 2) Seemed to the backof the .slotted angle bracket 185 having the' herizen'eallyleetemles erm 186 for. Slidebvserperting theether Seek eleans member 11,1 Y'1`1 1.e'rae1 184 meshes with e Prien 181 fixed te shaft 178 between the @ariege 181.211,16 1.82 i

Ihe angle bracket 185 is provided with the vertical slots 1,877, 188, 189 and 1 90 slidably receiving the vclamping set bolts 191, 192, 198

and 194, respectively, which are screwthread ed inte the plate 1831i) clamp the bracket 185 in e-djeeted peeiliieil shaft- 8 extends through a strap bearing plate 19,5, (see Figs. 3 and 5), iiXed to the legs 13 and 13 of thestandard 15; and a crank 196 is secured to the end of this shaft 195 tovimpart 4rotation .thereto manually when desired. e

The free end of the crank 196 has a hollow handle 197tiXed tlieretoand a spring controlled stop bolt 198 4entends axially through this handle to engage vany one of a series ot' cooperating Vindicating stop depressions 199 formed in lan arcuate plate 200 which is ixed tothe Vlegs 13 2111013 of the standard 15, (see Fi ThisY stop construction is Well known in all the mechanic yarts and need not be further describedherein. lSuttce to say that the spring (not shown) in the handle forces the belt 19,8 yieldingly against the f plate Y100 andfinto `the .various .depressions 199 when Plate .2011-, e

1s wil be obvious from the .foregoing disclosure, rotation of the shaft 178 by crank 196 rotatesthe pinions v177 and 184, and thereby simultaneously raises orplowers the angle brackets 164 and 1.85, with everything carried thereby, on the relatively fixed sup porting plates'165 and 183. It is to be unthe crank 196 is rotated .over the .derstood, of course, thatthe clamping bolts extendinglthrough the slots in the twopangle brackets will beloosened `when the brackets are being .raised or lowered in -the machine, and will .be turned into ,clamping positions when :the brackets are in the )desired position to which thevshall have-been "ldlllid by` Operation :of the eeenk .i961

The horizontal arm 163 near its outer .end

has an.upwardlyprojectingtongue 201, (see Fig. 1), spaced inwardly from theend ot arm 163,l a distance equal to the width oft-he rod-12.6;A 'and lugs .20,02'Aa11`d.l 203, (s eewFig. 4).

extend `up vfrom' the front edge of arm 163 tomhold ,the .rod y:126 slidablyfagainst v the tongue201. Aplate v270.4, ,ek-tending slightly over .the top-otrod A126`,fis suitably secured te .the top of tongue 2011to ',holdthe said rod 126 slidablythe groove .formed between tongue 201 and lugs-202land203- Similarly. luse205" and (206]rreieeter from the end of the horizontal arm 186 to cooperate with a tongue 207 to hold the sack closing member 114 slidably on the arm 1486 a plate 208 being suitably secured/to the top ef Said tensile 207 and ,Slightly everlappns the top of the member 114110 hold the latter Slidebw in the sreeve termed by theeensue 20'.7 and the lugs 205 and 206 on the arm 1h86.

, secured to the rod 126, (see Fig. 7), and having` the intermediate part 212 parallel to the rod 126 to form a supportei'or the upper end of the rod 98 on which the sleeve97 ismounted to slide.

The relie 212 Slides. .111 e Vsreme 2,13, (See Fig. 3), formed in the lower face of a plate 214 suitably secured t-o and supportedv by pillars 215 and 216 iixed to the horizontal arm 163 yat the rear of the tongue 2 01; and a strap 217 secured to the vertical Jface of the bracket 164,` (see Fig. 1) and to thefplate 214, (see Fig. 3), braces this plate 214 and the pillars 215 and 216 relativeto the bracket 164.

Similarly, the standard 210 of they sack closing member 114 is formed as a substantially inverted U-shaped member having the lower ends `218 and 219 suitably secured to the top of rod 220, and having the intermediate part 221 parallel to rod 220 y.to .form a support for the upper end of rod120 on which sleeve 119 is mounted to slide.

The part 221 slides in a groove ,222, (See Fig. 2)', formed in the lower v,tace of a plate 223 suitably secured to and supported vby pillars 224 and 225, (see Fig. 4) ,[ixedto the horizontal arm 186 of the angle bracket 185 at the rear or" the tongue 207,; and a strap 225 relative to the bracket 185.

The other Sack closing member 11.4 `com- 1;

prises the rod 220 slidably mounted on the horizontal arm 186 between the lugs 2 05 and 206 and the tongue 207. V,The rod 22,0 is biurcated at one end to tormthe sack enses'es fingers 227 and 228, (see ,Fis 12).: which cooperate with the iiiigers 143, '144, 145-and 146m closing thesack S.

The Vmember 114includes means terbende ing a wire tie 229 around the Vsack .S and for forcing theen ds of the tie betweenthetoothed wire4 gripping elements 149 v`and 150 of vthe sack closing member 99. The ties 229 are of a predetermined length, and are fed swiftly and automatically from a wirelcfutter,

hereinafter fleeelbed: .threugh e ;.etiaisl-l f guide slot 230 having an inclin-ed wall 231 to feed thetie onto the horizontal face 232 of an arcuate recess .formed inthey bifurcated end ofthe rod 220, the vertical walls of the said recess'being indicated in Fig. 12 by the reference characters 233 and 234.

The curvature `rof the walls 233 and 234 is, of course, determinedby the length of the Vbent around said neck.y The walls 233 and 234, therefore, must be struck from the center' 235 so far as their curvature from the slot 230 is concerned, while the parts thereof behind slot 230 may be formed asfound convenient.

' In order to bend the tie 229 a pair of curved jaws 236 and 237 are mounted in a circular recess 238 to pivot about the pin 239 fixed to the bifurcated end of rod 220. The vertical walls of the recess 238 and the outer edges of the jaws 236 and 237 are struck from the axis of pin 239 as center; while the inner arcu-` ate edges of the jaws are formed on an arc corresponding to the diameter of the' closed sack atthetied part thereof,- each of the said inner edges being provided with a groove 240 to prevent kinking of the wire tie 229 and hold it while theendsare being twisted by the rotation of the shaft 127 while the sack closing members 99 and 11'4 are performing their sack closing operation.

The jaws 236 and 237 are swung about the pin 239 by means of a T-shaped member having branches 241 and 242 extending from opposite sides of the end of a-central leg 243 which is securely fastened by screws 244, (see Fig. 11), to the end of a 'rod 245 slidably mounted in the bore 24.5 formed in oneend ofthe rod 220.

The branches 241Aand 242 have dowels 246 and 247 lfixed thereto to slide in slots 248 and 249, respectively. f The rod 220 between its ends is grooved to forma recess 250 receiving the rod 245 and giving access to the screws 244.

The end ofthe rod 245 impinges against the end of one arm'251 of a bellcrank lever which is pivoted at the intersection of bellcrank arm 251 ywith bellcrank arm 252 to bracket 253 secured by screws 254 to the rod 220.A A stop 255 is fixed to arm 252 to limit the rotation of the bellcrank anti-clockwise asseen in Fig.v 10 and to limit the movement of the rod 245 by the compression spring 256 which is coiled around the 'part of rod 245 projecting from rod 220, between theend of rod 220 and an abutment pin 257 fixed to said part.

f -The screws 259, tapped into the holes L260 are adaptedto secure a plate, not shown, the

purpose of which istocover the recesses 232 vto be engaged bylug 262, (see Fig.l 2), depending from a rod 263 slidably mounted in and 238, and to enclose the jaws 236 and 237 L with their operating mechanism. The endll of the bell-crank lever arm 252 is provided with a recess, (see Figs. land 10.), adapted a standard 264, (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5). The 7 rod 263 terminates in a head 265 from which project the plates 266 and 267, (see Fig. l), provided with slots of the same width as the diameter of shaft 51. The slot 268 in the plate 267 is shown i'n Fig.2 and is identical with a similar slot, (not shown), formed inl plate 266. n

The shaft 51 acts as a further support for the rod 263; and a cam disk 269, fixed to shaft A 51, rotates between said plates 266 and 267, (see Fig. 1), to reciprocate the said, rod 263, in order to cause the lug 262 to seat at predetermined intervals in the recess 261 of bellcrank lever 252 and pull said lever to 'force rod 245, against the pressure of spring 256, inwardly of the rod 220 and thereby cause the jaws 236 and 237 to bend a tie around a r sack S when properly positioned inthe machine.

A coil spring 270 surrounds the rod 263 and has oneend abutting against the standard 264 while the other end abuts against the shoulder formed by the junction of rod 263y and the head 265. It will be ap arent from Figs. 1 and 2 that this'spring 270 keeps the head in constant contact with the head' 265 between the plates 266 and 267, and thereby causes the rod 263 and its lug 262 to reciprocate at right angles to the path of movement of the sack closing member 114 and cause operation' of the wire tie bending jaws 236 y and 237.

The gear 159 is oscillatably mounted on its stub shaft 271 supported by the horizontal arm 163 of the bracket 164. The oscillation of gear 159 and the cam disk 158 integral therewith is effected by a rack 274 meshin with a pinion 275 fixed tothe disk 158 and gear 159. This rack 274 is integral with a rod I 276 suitably connected or formed integral with a head 277 from Vwhich the plates 288.l and 289 extend rearwardly on'op osite sides of an eccentric disk 290 fixed to t e shaft 51,' (see Figs'. 1 and 3). y l The plates 288 and 289 are longitudinally slotted to slide on and be su ported by the shaft 51, one of the slots 291 being shown in..` plate 288, (see Fig. 3). The. slot, (not shown), in plate 289 is identical with slot 291 and serves to support the said plate 289 slidf to a stud 295projecting inwardly from the leg 13, (see Fig. 4),. A tension spring 293, (seeFig. 3),r connects the lowervend et the lever 292 to the lower end of the arm 294 and serves to keep the head 277 in Contact with the.disk.290. f' l The swinging pivotal support of the lever' 292 and its fulcrum 293 is `necessary to provide for the verticaladjustment of the sack closing members 99 andy 114, and at the same time provide for oscillation of the gear 159 at all adjustments of such members.

VAs previously described, the reciprocation of the sack closing` members, toward and from the Center of the machine, is controlled by the engagement or" the arm 110 by a filled sack on the conveyor 16. The arm 297 on the opposite side ofthe'machine from the arm 110 controls, also by contact vwith a Vfilled sack, the operation of aiwlre cutting'device, shown inV Figures13 to 16, for cutting wire ties of predeterminedlength and for feeding the cut ties snugly into the slot 230 on the sack closing member 114. Y

The arm 297, (see Figs. 1 and 2) is suitably secured to a block-298', which is, in turn,

ixed by a set. bolt 299 to the upper end of a shaft 300 passing rotatably through a spacing sleeve 301 seated endwise on a bearing block 302, andsuitably slotted to seat on the hori zontal :flange 303. Bolts 30.4k liX the block 302 in proper adjusted position on .the flange 303. The lower end or" shaft 300 -projects'below the block. 302 'and has a 'stopv arm 305 fixed 1. thereto by a set bolt 306. A tension spring 307 has one'of its endsfiXedto the iiange 303 of the runnerV 2 and has its other end fixed to the stop arm 305. l Y

As shown i'nvF ig. 1, the-'spring307vis not under tension .and holds the' arm 305 so that its end is'in the p'athuof movement of one end of the rod 308, (see Figs. 1 and 2) mounted to slide lengthwise in a slot, (not shown), in the guide block309`fixed by 'set bolt 310 l to fiange 303'. The "rod 308,has itsotherV end pivotally connected toa lever'311 having one end Vthereof pivoteditovablock 312 suitably secured tothe'leverrail .r

Acam disksuitablykeyed or otherwise secured to the conveyor'sh'aft64rotates in con#l stant contact with a lug314adjustablelength-v wiseof lever311 and-secured in adjusted position thereon by a set bolt 315. A spring 316 has one'ofits ends connected 'to the flange 317 of a piece of angle iron'fiired. to the lower tace by preventsreciprooationofJa rod- 318, (see Fig. 2),.having one endipivotally connected to lever 311 to .control the .operation oi' the wire feeder and cutter about .to be described.

The speciiic details of the wire feeder and cutter arev shown in Figs. 13 to 16 of the drawing. rlhese details include a base 319, (see F ig. 16), provided with a guide groove 329fi'nY which a tongue 321 of a slide 322 is slidably seated. Angle plates 323k and 324 suitably seeuredto the sides of the base 319 have their upper parts 325 and 326 turned over onopposite sides of the slide 322 to retain the latter slidably on the base 319.

rlhe slide 322 has a stop rod 327 screwthreaded into one end thereof and locked thereto by a lock nut 328. The free end of rod 327 is turned down to receive a screw- 329 provided with a lock nutV 330, the end of theiscrew being adapted to contact with.

is pivoted' to the end of the slide 320 oppon site the stop screw 329, and has lan arm 334'V projecting from its lower end to be engaged by a lug 335 projecting from the upper endI of the link 332, for holding the cutting edge of the cutter 333 depressed below the top faceof slide320, when the latterv is .being pulled to the right, as viewed in'v Fig; 15. The lug 335`slides on the periphery of a cam recess 336 shaped so that when `the link 332 is `pushed to the left, -as shown in 'ull lines in Fig. 15, the upper left hand edge of lug 335 impinges against the upper part of recess 336 and raises the cutting edge 337, (see 14), of the cutter abovetheupper face ofslide 320 .to cut Va predetermined length of wire from a stretch of wire fed along the slide 320 bythe wire grip pawls 338 andr339.

The link 332 is pivotally'connected to one' end .ofthe rod 318, which has its other end pivoted 'to the upper endI ofV the lever 311 to be reciprocatedthereby.-y

Thewire1340 is conducted vfrom a reel', (not shown), through an aperture 341 in a guide plate 342 andV under the teeth-of thevgrip pawlf339 over onto va guide groove 343 be-Y neath af correspondingly grooved plate 344 fixed to slide 321 by a screw 345.v

- The pawl 339 is pivoted eccentrically to a standard 346, and a weight 347 keeps the teeth 348 'normally pressing against the wire to prevent movement of the wire vin *av direction. opposite to the direction' of inclination ofthe teeth'. 'Y

lhe standar-d 346 is integral with ya horiy'tion of adjustment on plate 350. -f

A tension plate^352 is held yieldingly pressed onthe wire-340 on the extension 348 by means of theset screws 353 and354 tapped into extensionv348r and having compression springs 355 coiled around ,their shanks between the heads of the screws and the top of plate 352.

The other grip ypawl 338 is eccentrically pivoted on the standard 356 secured by screw 357 to the slide 321, and has a weight 358 designed to keep the grip teeth of pawl 338 vin contact with wire 340 to draw` the wire.

340 to the left, as seen in Fig. 14, when the slide 321 is Amoved yto the left. A hardened steel plate 359 fixed to slide 321 cooperates with the cutteryedge 337 to sever the wire 341 when the cutter 333 is swung upwardly by a push to the left, (as seen in Fig. 15), ofv

the link 332.

The base 319Y and the angle plate 32,3 are clamped tothe supporting plate 350 by screws 360 and 361; and the plate 350 is secured to the supporting structure for the sack closing members99 and 114'and moves bodily therewithf as hereinafter described.

A cam plate 362 isvclamped to the base 319 through the angle plate` 323 by means of the screws 363 and 364. A strip 365 is secured tothe slide 321Ybyscrews 366 and has bear ings 366 and 367, extending laterally therefrom, and in which a shaft 368 is journaled. Awire tie retaining plate 369'is fixed to said shaftby screws 370. The shaft 368 has one end thereof bent to act as contact member 371 forvsliding4 along the cam plate 362 inrorder` toraisethe free downturnedv end 372 of the tie retainingfplate 369 away from itsinclined basel platey 373.

The tie carrying base plate 373 is fixed to the slide 321 and isv inclined downwardly from the .member 114 when the said member p and the cutter are properly posit'ioned'for this purpose, as will be 'describedhereafter,.

This plate 373 moveswith .they slide under an inclined plane 374 suitablyiixed orformed integral with the base 319 or'rfiangemember VThe trough-like. upturned member37 5 hav# ing lugs 376 and .327 projectingv therefrom yis also-fixed to slide 321fand serves toform an abutment to prevent bending of the wire 340 Ywhile it is being cut-L by upward' moveihellt o f the:- cutter 333.

A stop 378'projects up from the edge of the tiecarrying base yplatel 37 3 and` slides with' saidjplate 'along the lower edge ofthe in-V clined plane 374. The stop 378 ,is provided` with an inclined end 379 adapted to rideiinder and raise a gravity actuated retainer* l plate 380 secured to the end of a small rod 381i ivoted to standard fixed t0 the 'base 319 orA the flange member 324.

In the operation of the tie cutter, it is to be understood that the cutter mechanism is? fixed as a whole by the supporting late 350 to an arm extending inwardlyv rom the' bracket A185, (see Fig.' 4), in such position that when the sack closing member 114 is inv u its retracted position, as vshownfin 4,1' the tie retainer members 369 and 374 am: positioned immediately above the tie receive 1 ing slot 230 in the member 114 with the plate 369, raised as shown in Fig. 16to permit er tie to roll by gravity of the tie carrying plate? 373 into the slot 230.

lVhen the member 114 moves ytoward center of the machine to close a sack, the

tie carrying plate 373 and the retainer plate u 369 must be moved away from the memberf 114, and this movement is utilized to cutfa'L tie from a length of wire, as will be described? later.

.In order to insure a'compact closing of the n filled sack S, a pairof scissor-like arms 382- and 383, (see Fig. 4), are pivoted to' swingl bodily at thevcenter of the machine, in front; of a platev 384 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front edge ofthe upper part Vg5 of astrap bridge 385 having downturned legs 386 and387 secured to the plates A214 andI 223, respectively. N The arms 382 and 383 are pivoted to each other and to the end of their supporting lever nu arm 388 by means of the pivot bolt 389; and this arm 388 is pivoted intermediate its exldii` y to the plate'384 by the pivot bolt 390, and at weight 391 is fixed to the arm 388, on the side of pivot 390 opposite to the pivot 389, m5 to hold the scissor-like arms 382 and 388i raised away `from the sack `spreading posiu Y Y tion. shown yin Fig. 4. f The legs 382 and'383 extend on 'opposite j' sides of pivot 389, and the ends ofthe extenmi y edges ofa spreader block 396 fixed to plateli i;

384 to spread the legs 382 and 383-apartdu1t-f` ing the lowering thereof into the'm'outlxv f" the sack S. f f

A strap 397 which in Figure 4 f behind the plate 384, is secured centrally tt)v 1m the block 396 and has its ends benttoward; the plate 384 to be secured thereto by the; screws 398 andl 399. The strap 397 provided guide slots for the legs 382 and 383 land iin bent ends contact with the outer edges ofthe. 19

legs 382 and 383 to force them together', against the .tension of spring 394-during the raising ofthe legs 382 and383 by the weight 391. l y

The raising and lowering of the legs 3@ ign and 383 is effected by alink 400 pivoted at its upper Ven dtoithe lever 388 adjacent the weight 391 and having a"roller.401 at its lower end adapted to rideover a cam block402, (see Figs. 4, 7 andj8), fixed byanglebrackets 403 and 404, (see Fig. 7) to one-side of the standard 209.v t j Y v i 1 A tension spring 405,l (see Fig. 4)` has one of itsjends iixedto the plate 384 and has its other end fixed to the link 400 to maintain the link normally in contact with the stop edge 406 ofa stop plate 'fixed to the supporting plate 384. An upturned end 407 of the stop plate serves as a stop to limit the swing of the link 400against the tension of the spring in the operation of this invention, it is to be understood that` all'the movable parts are driven'by'the motor 42, and are timed so that their functions are performed in proper relation lto eachother to effect the automatic feed'of lledsacks to proper position between the sackclosing members 99. and 114, and to move these membersagainst t-he mouth of the filled sacksspread apart by the scissorlike members 382V and 383. The wire tie 229 is .bent around the mouth of sack by the jaws 236 and 237 ,and the ends of the tie are gripped between Vand twisted by rotation of the members 149y and 15.0 of the sack closing member y The-wire cutting and .feeding operation is performedwhen the sack lclosing members are retracted from yeach other, and the reciprocation of the tie supporting and retaining plates -37 3 and 369 takes place while the members 99 and 114 are 4performing their sack closing and tying operation. Y

i vhen the motor 42 is set in operation, it rotates the shaft 51 and the cam rolls 82 and 89 carried thereby and also, through the chain 62.rotates the shaft 64 to set the conveyor 16 traveling lengthwise of the runners 1 and 2. Filled sacks'to be tied by themachineare positionedeither manually or automaticallyrup'on the conveyor 16 against the bracket k27 carried by said conveyor'.

Theiilled sacks are positioned on the conveyor at-thelefthand end of the machine, as shown in Fig.1,wl1 ich end is to be considered as `the frontend. l The conveyormoving toward the sack closing members 99' and 114 Vcauses-the filled sacks` to `,contact with the guide members 34 and-'35 and to rbe centered on theconveyor by suchl contact. During the travelofthe conveyonthe filled/sack contacts with the control arm'1510 to -move the sto y 103 'out of V,the path of sliding rod 101, and t erebypermitthe spring A90-to pull ithe roller 80 finto the cam-groove 8 1when1 the roller reaches the entrance lof said groove during the con- Ytinuous rotation of-tlie roller 82.

Vhen the roller 80 moves in the camgroove r 81, it oscillatesv the lever 79 about the pivot f Aavis "78;j andthe connecting link125 causes 'the ,member 99.

the lever 86 to oscillate in the opposite direction in order to move the sack closing member 114 toward and from the said closing member 99, the movements of which are controlled by the oscillation of lever 79. j Y

While the sack closing members 99 and 114 are being moved from their eXtereme separated positions toward each other, the sliding of the cam plate 402k under the roller 401 causes depression of thelever 388, and this depression causes the inner edgesl oftheflegs 382 and 383 to spread as they lower into the sack S in order to hold the mouth o f sack spread for properV closing operation by the sack closing members 99 and114.

Assuming that a wire tie has been previously dropped into the slot 2 30 of the member 114, it will be apparent that' when the members 99 and 114 have 'reached theirrlirnit of approach toward each other, the ends of the tie will be gripped by the gripping members of. rthe member 99 and will be twisted by rotation of theA shaft 127, (see Fig. 7 This rotation of the shaft 127 is eifected by engagement of the gear 215 with the pinion 130; and the gripping action of the members 149 and 150 is effected by the separation of the cap member 134from the flange 132 by the insertion of the cam `158 between -said cap member and flange.

While the tying operation is being performed on the sack S, the wire cutter shall have drawn in and cut olf a tie of'predetermined length from the wire 340. As soon as the tying operation is completed, the members 99and 114 are separated and during thisY separation the ylegs 382 and 383 are moved vaway from the top of the sack S.

` tie cutter shown in FiUs. 13 to'16. This operation cuts off a predetermined length of wire and feeds it from the supporting plate 374, (by means of the tie supporting plate 373 and the tie retaining plate .369), into position over the slot V230 fof the member114, when the latter is in extreme retracted position, in order toV deposit a tie in front of the wire bending jaws 236 and 237 to be bent around a `filled sack when the' member 114V is moved into proper sack Vclosing position relativeto As will be clear from the drawings,.all the parts are timed in operation so that the conve or comes to .restdurino the t 7ino' operation, and the several parts of the tying mechanism areoperated only when a filled sack is presented to the machine to havethe mouth thereof tied, It will be apparent too that 

